Conference tallis::celt

    While I basically agree that immigration laws are restrictive (and
    not just for the Irish) and reform is necessary, I must take issue
    with this article on the point of unfairness. Please tell me what
    percentage of the world population are Irish Nationals. If it is
    more than the aforementioned one fifth of one percent then I believe
    you have a complaint. I could even be persuaded to exclude/weight
    certain other segments of the population where economic conditions
    were better. I also think that we need to legislate a formula that
    is fair and not based on the individual biases of certain legislators
    every two to four years. Then leave the INS to determine how many
    visas will be given each year based on the formula. Yes the formula
    will probably be quite complex but I think we have too many problems
    of our own to deal with without making Congress play nursemaid to
    the INS everytime economic conditions change in other countries.
    Maybe we should also be lobbying Congress for economic aid to help
    rebuild the Irish economy. As a third generation Irish-American
    who has made many visits to Ireland I would like to someday return
    my family to its roots and keep my grandparents promise to their
    family. The question is will there be anything left if all of Ireland
    is leaving and noone is addressing the problems?
    
    Please don't berate me for not being simpithetic to your plight,
    I AM and I have written to my congressmen and senators to say
    so. 

    
    Point taken.  However I did mention prior to the advertisement contents
    that giving more to the Irish would deprive others and that would
    not be fair.  Please note the text was from an advertisement, not
    an article - hence it was bound to be biased to the point of view
    of the person paying for it.
    
    I've been through the mill that is the INS.  Notice how similar
    the initials are to the IRS ?  Have you ever had any serious dealings
    with the latter ??  If not ask some of your friends, one of them
    is bound to have had opportunity to talk with the IRS.  Find out
    how a) charming  b) intelligent  c) informed their staff are :-)
    
    A friend of mine told me he knew someone who got a job with the
    IRS after they had failed some basic test given for would-be employees
    of Mc Donalds !!  It's an exaggeration, no doubt, but it could well
    be true.  I've also heard rumours - and could vouch for their
    authenticity on the basis of _my_ dealings with the INS - that the
    INS hires the IRS rejects.
    
    This long digression is by way of saying _don't_ ever give the INS
    a formula and leave it solely up to them to determine numbers and
    suitability of people.  Their job, really, is to make it as difficult
    as possible for people to be admitted into the US.  Bear this in
    mind, this country - save for the poor original natives - was built
    by immigrants who left their homelands under harsh conditions
    determined to suceed.
    
    And I stand by what I say re the role of the INS.  I know computer
    companies who won't even _talk_ with a potential employee if they
    don't have a US citizenship or a resident visa.  They have decided
    it's not worth the cost and effort to obtain visas to get qualified,
    experienced people to work for them.  They base this on past dealings
    with the INS.  Others who have not ever dealt with the INS don't
    want to get involved.
    
    Re Congress and financial aid to Ireland.  If I had stayed there,
    I wouldn't want financial aid.  Yes, there are lots of people out
    of work and living on the breadline, but they don't want extra handouts
    in the long term - they want jobs.  The problems of the Irish economy
    (and others) won't be solved by financial aid, it requires substantial
    changes in thinking for those who hold the reins of planning and
    power.  
    
    A lot who leave Ireland won't ever come back.  The are lots of reasons;
    they can make a better living elsewhere - even illegally; they
    establish new roots; there's nothing to go back for, high living
    costs, job uncertainties, etc.,etc.  However, there are also a lot
    that will, and given opportunities they will go back with more money,
    and experience which they will probably use to help themselves stay
    there.  This will undoubtedly help the country in general.
    
    A pipe dream ?  I don't think so.  I do know _I_ want a chance to
    be able to stay here and make a reasonable living.  I don't want
    to have my family in Ireland and be globe-trotting around the world
    for 7 months of every year just to feed, clothe and house them.
    I've been through this and _nothing_ would make me want to do this
    again.
    
    
    Anyway, I'm for the bill.  Yes, it leaves a lot of questions
    unanswered, a lot of problems unresolved.  But would you like to
    see another 2+ years wasted while a new Congress gets settled in,
    and then go through this whole scenario in 3-4 years time ?
    

    I also support the bill it is a start towards a better life. 
    
    Here is a list of the Reps. If you don't have time to drop them
    a postcard stating your support for HR#5115. Just give them a call
    and register your support that way.  It only takes a couple seconds
    and it is done there is no pain involved.  Every phone call is tallied
    up and used.  Remember YOU vote these people IN to office now the
    next step is to have THEM do what you want them to do.
    
       Number                       Massachusetts   Washington
       of          Name of          office          office
       district    Representative   telephone  #    telephone  #
    
       
        1ST        SILVIO O. CONTE  (413)532-7010   (202) 225-5335 
                                    (413)442-0946
        
    
        2ND        EDWARD P. BOLAND (617)342-8722   (202) 225-5610
                                    (413)785-0325
    
    
        3RD        JOSEPH D. EARLY  (617)752-6718   (202) 225-6101
    
    
        4TH        BARNEY FRANK     (617)674-3551   (202) 225-5931
                                    (617)332-3920                 
    
        5TH        CHESTER ATKINS   (617)459-1010   (202) 225-3411
    
    
        6TH        NICHOLAS MAVROULES(617)372-3461  (202) 225-8020
    
    
        7TH        EDWARD J. MARKY  (617)565-2900   (202) 225-2836
    
    
        8TH       JOSEPH P. KENNEDY (617)565-8686   (202) 225-5111
    
    
        9TH       JOHN J. MOAKLEY   (617)565-2920   (202) 225-8273
    
        
        10TH      GERRY E. STUDDS   (617)771-0666   (202) 225-3111
    
    
        11TH      BRIAN J. DONNELLY (617)565-2910   (202) 225-3215
                                    (617)583-6300
       Thanks                                                           
       paddy 
    

    
    Maith a fear, paddy.  Now no-one has not got no excuses not to ring
    and let their reps know they're not happy with the current status
    quo.  :-)

While on the subject (what, not ratholing here ;->),

Does anybody know how immigrants migrate back to their home lands?

What country takes in the greatest number of immigrants per year?

I know there are fluctuations due to various political and environmental
conditions, but to some countries tend to loose more people to immigration
than others?

I, for one, do wonder about moving back to the land of my ancestors.
One of the best things this notes file has taught me, is that the Ireland
I thought I knew (the one my grandfather taught me about, the one he was
forced to leave), does not exist anymore.  My grandfather's memory is
for a finite period of time, while Ireland has moved on, inspite of not
being able to do so with his presence.

Anyways, immigration presents a two sided dilema.

Alice

    RE: .2
    
    Let me explain what I mean by Economic Aid. I think we should be
    proposing tax breaks and other incentives to U.S. Corporations to
    place their foreign operations in certain target countries that
    are our allies, that have economic need, and that either have or
    can easily obtain the necessary work force within it's communities.
    If it is possible let's locate our military installations where
    they can do economic good for the same reasons.
    I don't want my tax money being outright given to anybody either
    in or out of this country. That only masks the problem while it
    gets worse. The EEC has proven in the past that allowing host
    countries to give these incentives accomplishes the same 
    thing(masking the problem).

    
    
    
    For any of you that want more information write 
    
                    Irish Immigration Reform Movement,Inc
                        1652 Dorchester Avenue
                        Dorchester Mass. 02122  USA.
                        
    paddy
    

    
    Re: .3
    
    I rang Chester Atkins office.  The number is 459-0101, I guess Paddy
    isn't great at the old binary math.  :-)
    

    I wonder how many others used the numbers??????
    
    Good job it actually is a form of Grey Code and Hex mixed in with
    a touch of BCD
    

    
    Following the recent report in the Irish Emigrant No. 88 regarding
    the allocation of more Donnelly Visas, I rang Brian Donnelly's office
    to see the progress - if any - of the measure.
    
    Surprise, surprise, no progress on the matter.  They are soooo busy
    cleaning up the outstanding business before the Congress breaks
    up (or whatever the technical term is, :-) ), that they have yet
    to get to voting on it.
    
    All this by way of a reminder to phone your local rep. and let them
    know that you support the bill.  
    
    By the way.  Any of you aspiring politicians out there, what's a
    good paper to get if one wishes to keep up with developments in
    Washington ?  And one I can get locally, the drive to Washington
    is a little long to do on a weekly basis.
    
    

    Check your local public library. Daily papers such as Washington
    Post and New York Times and Wall Street Journal usually cover all
    major issues and alot of minor ones. Not sure how this one fits
    in the scheme of things. [one wonders why two presidential candidates
    who profess strong ethnic ties aren't speaking about said legislation]
    Also I know that Congress publishes thing like the Congressional
    Record [this mundane document supposedly contains every word ever
    spoken in congreesional sessions]but I don't know how often.